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sleep disorders can cause cronic fatigue

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Posted 3/24/2005 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
I suffered severe cronic fatigue for years before finally getting an overnight sleep study which showed I had sleep apnea
I now wear a CPAP machine every night which helps me breathe properly and I have lots more energy

none of the many cronic fatigue experts I saw ever mentioned this possibility

heavy sooring is a sign of a sleep disorder and these cause cronic fatigue
Posted 3/25/2005 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
yeah  You're absolutely right Harry, and it's good thing you mentioned it too, because I for one would probably assume that any sleep disorder mentioned here was just a symptom. ( eyes Excuse me while I kick myself.)

True chronic fatigue syndrome tends not to happen to just specific categories of people like sleep apnoea does, and that is a clue sometimes, but to be honest, I think it would be a good idea to always see a sleep specialist if chronic fatigue and disturbed sleep are the most noticeable problems.  

But as you point out, sleep apnoea is a very underdiagnosed cause of chronic fatigue; I read recently about a study that found many unexplained car crashes were probably caused by it, but this went unrecognised until someone realised how often the drivers were in the high risk category for sleep apnoea.

Many doctors are inclined to confuse cause and effect, and sleep disorders and chronic fatigue is a classic. 

tongue   You'd think it would be a no-brainer for them, wouldn't you Harry - poor sleep = tired all the time ? Maybe they're too tired to think straight... eyes

Posted 3/26/2005 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
redface
Thanks for all the emails..i see my self on all of you..and i know, now, that i am not crazy... nono
Tonight, i am going to see doctor for the 3 th time this wk. My iron level has dropped so much, they will run another CBC test at 5..pm..and if iron is as wors as it is right now...I am getting blood transfusion tonigt mad
However, i told the doctors and nurses, that anything that will need to be done, will be after my service at church ...wich ends at 8:30. This CFS is not gonna be running the show for me..no way JOSE...I will be in control as longest i can do it... tongue The worst fear is fear itself...and i am not about to be fear or worry. Doctor mentined something about "C" word, i answered the doctor that told me this, just days ago.."Listen doctor, lets not get a head of ourselves ok, If the C word is in my system...Well, i will handle if appears. If not don't sweat it. ANd if worst case i do happend to have the C word, will, i am not intimidated by it. I will put my Rocky Gloves and fight back. I am planning on doing my 3-Day breast cancer walk in Oct/05 here in southern california...and no matter what it takes, i am doing it... yeah Talk to you soon,
PFC
Posted 3/26/2005 9:37 AM (GMT 0)
Rock On, p4c!!
I love your attitude!

Harry4,
Welcome to HealingWell and the CFS Forum!
Thank you for posting this info. It's interesting that the CFS experts you saw never mentioned it. It may be because sleep disorders "should" be the first thing a primary care Dr thinks of, when a patient reports the symptom of chronic fatigue for the first time. It may be that the CFS expert expects that sleep disorder has been already ruled out, by the time the patient gets to the expert. Or it could be the "experts" you saw aren't quite so expert as you thought. There aren't that many MDs or DOs who call themselves experts, in fact there are probablly less than 15 or 20 in the US. And no offense, but I see too many alternative practitioners call themselves experts, whose primary interest is selling their product or service.

But anyway, it's just so great that you have found so much relief. Would you say that you no longer have CFS now? Or do you think you still have it, just not as bad now?

Well, glad to meet you, and hope to see you on the board some more. Thanks again, and take care.
Posted 3/26/2005 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Brynn

my energy levels are still a bit low but I am 62 and have longterm depression, however I have much more energy and can work quite hard on one day and still be OK the next day, instead of being half dead for the next week or so as before
I also saw many naturapaths, none ever asked me if I snored or was restless in my sleep

I have suggested to several cronic fatigue organisations that they need to talk more with sleep disorder docs and groups
Posted 3/29/2005 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Harry,
Oh, well naturopaths are not MDs and have nothing to gain by suggesting a sleep study. Oops, you're from the UK. I don't know what kind of credentials medical Drs carry there. But whatever they are, just replace "MDs or DOs" in this message with whatever credentials medical Drs carry there. Actually, I guess there may be a few ex-MDs who turn to naturopathy (if that is a word?). Unless the few who started out as MDs (or DOs) maintain their credentials, they cannot "order" a sleep study to be done. It may be that they DID think of the possibility, but knew any potential treatment would be medication, to which naturopaths tend to be opposed. My guess is that even if they recognized sleep issues might contribute to fatigue, their goal would be to treat the sleep problem with naturopathic techniques. I apologize if my attitude is offensive, I've just seen CFS patients so victimized by naturopaths and other alternative practitioners.

Every MD I ever consulted about CFS (more than 5) suggested a sleep study immediately! But the good news NOW, is that you are getting successful treatment, and are doing well. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing with us. Maybe this will be seen by others who insist on being treated by alternative practitioners.

I hope your new-found health is long lasting. Do a little extra LIVING for the rest of us (who can't be helped by a sleep study), ok? Have fun!
All best.
Posted 4/15/2005 6:39 PM (GMT 0)

thanks brynn

I should mention that I tape recorded myself asleep and heard very loud snoring but no long gaps without any breathing, so I thought I couldnt have a sleep disorder

later, by chance I learned that the apnea or closing can happen on almost every breath, so there doesnt always have to be long periods with no breathing

I also have cronic depression and assume my fatigue was thought to be from the depression by some docs

Posted 4/16/2005 5:39 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, no wonder it was such a shock to learn about the sleep disorder! Sounds like you had every reason not to suspect it. Just so glad that you're doing better, and I hope that you continue to do so. Cheers!
Posted 5/13/2005 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I haven't posted on this forum before but I had a question about sleep disorders.  My husband and I believe that he suffers from obstructive sleep disorder (even though he hasn't been dx'd yet).  I sometimes can't sleep because I can hear him gasping for breath every 5 minutes in his sleep and the majority of the time it wakes him up.  He is constantly tired and sleeps until about 3pm on the weekends.  He often tells me that he feels himself falling asleep on the road (scares me terribly!!!)  We both know that he needs to see a doctor however we don't know what kind of doctor... GP, ENT, ??  If anyone can help me with this I would appreciate it and if I'm in the wrong forum for this problem, I apologize.

Posted 6/6/2005 8:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Des,
I'm sorry no one has replied here. It's been so long, you may have found the answer elsewhere, already. But what you need to do is ask your primary care Dr to be referred for a sleep study. Basically what happens is they have you come into the facility for a few nights in a row. They hook you up to all kinds of gadgets, to try and pinpoint the problem, while you're sleeping in the facility. Then whatever treatment might be offered, depends on the outcome, depends on the specific diagnosis they make. I'm not sure what kind of Dr oversees the sleep study -- maybe neurologist. But you can start by simply asking your primary care Dr for a sleep study. Good luck :-)
Posted 6/6/2005 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for responding brynn. I will check with our PCP to find out what to do next. I was reading before about these sleep studies and many sites say that insurance companies do not pay for them. (I haven't checked with ours yet) Do you know about how much they cost?
Posted 6/6/2005 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
No, I don't know what they cost. My best guess would be anything up to around $1000 per night, but that is really a GUESS. But once your Dr refers you, you can call the sleep lab and ask about it. It may be that the sleep lab will want to confirm you have coverage, or otherwise the ability to pay for it, before they accept you as a patient. So they might end up doing the work for you. Also, if you have a very low income, you may be able to get assistance in paying for it, especially if the lab is at a medical school or university. Best of luck to you and your husband :-)
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